Coreless and centerless coiler



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INVENTOR JOHN S. 0A SE ATTORNEY 'Mar-ch 17, 1970 Filed June 25, 1968 J. S. CASE CORELESS AND CENTERLESS COILER 25 .IHI Iii l I illur l Il @1r ii MI Hmmm 147 63 www! In 51 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOH/V S. CASE INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 J. s. CASE I CORELESS AND CENTERLESS COILER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25. 1968 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR ./UH/V S. CASE BY g- M ATTORNEY United States Patent O CORELESS AND CENTERLESS COILER John S. Case, Towson, Md., assignor to The Anchor Post roducts, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New ersey Filed June 25, 1968, Ser. No. 739,770 Int. Cl. B65h 17/02 U.S. Cl. 242-67.1 8 Claims ABSTRACT oF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a machine for winding web upon itself in which the rollup is accomplished in the embrace of a loop in an endless moving belt. The rollers carrying the belt on one side of the rollforming loop are mounted on a swinging framework continuously biased vtoward the area to form the roll-forming loop into a pocket and increase the embrace. As the roll of material grows in size, this framework is forced outwardly against the bias until the pocket is lowered sufiiciently on the one side to cause the roll of material to revolve by gravity and be ejected from the machine.

This invention relates generally to winding and coiling machines, and particularly it pertains to a coreless and centerless coiler.

yIt is sometimes desired to roll up sheets of fabrics, such as chain link fabric, rugs, and carpets, exible sheets, steel and aluminum strips, for example, without the use of cores or mandrels in order to save on cost of the core or to reduce the time necessary to remove the completed roll from a mandrel.

It is, therefore, an object of this inventionto provide a coreless and centerless coiler or Winder for web material. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide a coiler type machine that will give a self or automatic delivery of a roll of fabric that will further reduce the time and labor of removing the completed roll of material from the coiler machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a self-dumping winding and coiling machine which functions to eject a` completed roll.

The wire fabric industry is concerned `with possible scratch damage to the new plastic finishes employed, such as provided for chain link fabric, for use in fence construction. l

A further object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a roll-up coiling machine for handling coated material with-out metallic contact of any kind.

Tight packaging of products, such as chain link fabric, I

saves space and prevents telescoping if the roll of material should be stacked and handled on end.

Yet a further object of this invention, therefore, resides in providing continuous packing and substantially circum- .,ferential pressure with end confinement while a roll of material is being formed in a winding machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a quickacting, motor-driven reset for use in a coiler for starting a new roll of fabric after the completion of another roll.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coiling machine for webbing which incorporates features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the machine taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and showing in dashed lines the unloading position of the elements;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 diagrammatically illustrate the start,

3,501,106 Patented Mar. 1 7, 1 970 intermediate, and final stages, respectively, of the operational cycle of the coiling machine of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the details of the invention as shown in the drawings, reference 10 indicates generally a roll winding machine which is of the coreless and centerless type. This machine 10 is incorporates a belt arrangement 11 which operates between endwall structures 12.

A main drive chain 13 coupled to a sprocket 14 rotates a shaft 15 which extends through both endwall structures 12. Another sprocket 16 adjacent to the sprocket 14 and secured to the same shaft 15 has a chain 17 which is coupled to a sprocket 18 and rotates a shaft 19, likewise extending through both endwall structures 12. The ratio between sprockets 16 and 18 is one-to-one.

Within the coiling machine 10 adjacent to each endwall structure 12 on the shaft 19, a bearing block 21 is provided as shown best in FIG. 2. These bearing blocks 21 pivotally support a rectangular swinging frame 22 made up of upper and lower longitudinal members 23 and 24, respectively, end vertical members 25, and a pair of intermediate spaced members 26, as best shown in FIG. l.

A sprocket 27 on shaft 19 is connected by a chain 28 to a sprocket 29 in one-to-one ratio and it rotates a shaft 31. The shaft 31 extends across the frame 22 and swings with it, supported on four spaced bearing blocks 32, one on each end of vertical member 25 and one on each intermediate vertical member 26.

A pair of spaced intermediate shaft supports 33 are l0- cated within the endwall structures 12 and are secured thereto as indicated best in FIG. 2. These supports 33 are held in spaced relationship by an upper and a lower tubular structural member 34 and 35, respectively.

A lower rear idler shaft 36 is journaled in these supports 33. Four belt sprockets 38 are mounted on the idler shaft 36 extending from one shaft support 33 to the other. In similar fashion, belt sprockets 37 are fastened to the shaft 15, located directly above shaft 36 and sprockets 38. Belt sprockets 39 and 40 are secured on the shafts 19 and 31, respectively, of the swinging frame 22. It should be understood all these belt sprockets 37, 38, 39 and 40 are of the same diameter so as to rotate at the same peripheral speed.

Belt link chains 41 mount belt slats 42 of the belt arrangement 11 and carry them around endlessly over the belt sprockets 40, 37, 38, and 39, in Ithat sequence, namely counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2. Preferably, the sl-ats 42 are of plastic or other non-damaging substance `to the material to be hand-led.

With 4the swinging fr-ame 22 vertical, the belt arrangement 11 is made suiiicien-tly lon-g so as to form a deep, slack, loop or pocket P. The swinging frame 22 is shown in a lowered or extended position as indicated by reference numeral 22 shown by lthe phantom lines of FIG. 2. In this lowered or extended position, the slack or pocket P is absorbed and the new condition of the belt is generally tau-t as depicted fby reference 11.

The frame 22 is biased in an upwardly direction from its extended position of frame 22' by means of a counterweight chain 43 which is attached at a shackle 44 near the swinging end. Chain 43 is brought over idler sprockets 45 and 47 which are mounted, respectively, by a plate bracket 46 and a bearing block 48. This bracket 46 and bearing block 48 are attached to the frame ofthe machine 10. A large sprocket 49 is secured on a long shaft51 which is journaled in bearing blocks 52, one 4on each endwall structure 12 near 4the top. The counterweight chain 43 passes over this :sprocket 49 and depends into an open end cylinder 54 where it is secured :to a counterweight S3. The cylinder 54 is secured to ythe framework of 4the machine 10 by brackets S5 land lserves to limit the swinging of the counterweight `53 as it moves upwardly and downwardly.

A drive sprocket 56 is attached to a dog-type clutch 57 which is secured on the end of shaft 51. A drive chain 58 from an external motive source l(not shown) rotates the sprocket 56 continuously and brings up the heavy swinging frame 22 when the clutch 57 is engaged to shaft 51 as a clutch handle 70 is manipulated by the operator. With means (not shown) such as a wedgepiece, the frame 22 automatically knocks out the engaged clutch 57 upon reaching a vertical jcondition.

A bracket 59 is mounted on both end vert-ical members 25 of the swinging frame 22 and -it carries a jou-rnaled roller 61 in contact with the belt arrangement 11. This keeps the -belt 11 from jumping the teeth of the belt sprockets 40 and possibly destroying the loop or pocket P, especially when the empty swinging frame 22 returns rapidly to a vertical condition.

A tubular support member 62 extends across 4the machine l above the pocket P and it carries two laterally free-swinging and depending arms 63 secured to hinges 64 adjustably spaced `by positioning elements 65. The lower ends ofthe arms 63 are provided with telescopic extensible members 66.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the lower ends of the members 66 each carry a narrow journaled roller 67 which con- -tacts the bottom of the pocket P of lthe belt arrangement 11 at all times. A plate 68 is mounted on the upper portion of the depending arm 63 in face opposition to another plate 68 similarly fastened to the other arm 63.

In oper-ation, the machine 10 is turned on and a web W of fabric material, such yas chain link fabric to be rolled up, is fed into the pocket P, as shown in FIG. 3. Whereupon the end of the web W starts folding upon itself under the urging of the belt arrangement 11 traveling -in the direction of the arrows.

In FIG. 4, the web W has buil-t up to a roll R of the fabric and is enlarging the pocket P against the biased frame 22. This frame 22 swings gradually outwardly toward a receiving pallet T which may be traylike, if desired, ejecting the roll of material when the coiled mass Ireaches a predetermined point of instabili-ty, overcoming lthe bias and eliminating the pocket P.

The buildup of the roll R is at all times ytight because of the substantial embrace of the belt arrangement thereabout. It is also prevented from being wound askew by the cheek-like action of the previously mentioned arms 63 and web-guidance plates 68.

In FIG. 5, the swing of frame 22 has now stretched the pocket P so shallow as to practically disappear. The roll R of the fabric W thereupon passes on the belt arrangement 11 over the llowered bel-t sprocket 40 to fall onto the pallet T as shown by the dotted lines and curved arrow.

The operator now cuts ott the web W and engages the clutch 57 on shaft 51 by means of the clutch handle 70. The sprocket 49 revolves rapidly pulling upon the chain 43 and the swinging frame 22 to bring it to a vertical position and the start of another cycle of operation can be undertaken as previously described.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the .above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that Within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A coreless and centerless coiling system adapted for coiling of continuous tiexible material lto a coil mass which produces a predetermined point of instability in said coiling system comprising, structure having at least Itwo coextensive spaced members, with at least one of said members being rotatably mounted to swing with respect to the other of said members, an endless belt means encompassing said coextensive members, counterweight means for biasing said one rotatably mounted member upward toward the other of said members to form a downward tending pocket in said endless belt means between said spaced members when said structure is in an unextended position, extensible pivoted means coupled to said endless belt means for maintaining said pocket therein, and means for driving said endless belt means for coiling of the continuous exible material fed into said pocket :by the rollup of said material upon itself due to Ithe embracing of said pocket in the endless moving be-lt means until a lmass of material is coiled which produces a predetermined point of instability in said bias, thereupon swinging and extending said spaced member and eliminating said pocket, positioning said coiling system for ejection of said coiled material.

2. A coreless and centerle-ss coiling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said driving means are of the sprocket type and have roller means lat a sprocket adapted to retain said belt means on said sprocket.

3. A coreless and centerless coiling system as recited in claim 1 and additionally means for controlling the width of the coil of continuous flexible material being coiled comprising plural laterally adjustable -said extensible pivoted means having cheek members integral therewith and pivotally positioned by contact lof said extensible pivoted means with said pocket.

4. A coreless and centerless coiling system as recited in claim 1, and additionally means for intermittently en ga'ging and disengaging said biasing means including a shaft engaging clutch for rendering said biasing means inoperative.

5. A coiling system for coiling of continuous ilexible material, comprising, structure having at least two coextensive spaced members, with at least one of said members being pivotally biased toward the other of said members, an endless belt means encompassing said coextensive members and forming a pocket therein for embracing material being coiled, means for driving said endless belt means in the same direction as the coiling ofthe continuous tiexible material fed into said pocket by the rollup of said material upon itself due to the embracing of a loop in the endless moving belt means, and additionally telescoping means extending within said pocket to contact the bottom of said pocket.

6. A coiling system as reci-ted in claim 5, and additionally yielding bias means for maintaining said U-shaped pocket in said endless belt means until said coiling sys-j tem reaches a point of instability through increase in mass of a said coil, said point of instability being characterized by straightening of said endless belt means by said coil of flexible material, thereby adapting said coiling system to eject said coiled exible material.

7. A coiling system as recited Iin claim 6 and additionally means for controlling Ithe width of the coil of continuous flexible material being coiled comprising laterally adjustable `opposed cheek members for engaging Isaid flexible material prior to the coiling thereof, said opposed cheek members being pivotally positioned by extensible means contacting said pocket, to guide the edges of the flexible material.

8. A coiling system as recited in claim S, and additionally means for intermittently engaging and disen- `gaging said pivotally biased member, said additional means including a clutch adapted to lock said pivotally biased member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,066 9/ 1937 Haupt 24267.1 X 2,174,411 9/1939 Baase et al. 242-671 2,623,703 12/ 1952 Laycock 242-7543 2,706,094 4/ 1955 Dyken.

NATHAN L. MtNrz, Primary Examiner 

